St James Quarter – Page 9 – The NEN

St James Quarter adds iconic Duck & Waffle restaurant to line up

St James Quarter is set to welcome the acclaimed Duck & Waffle restaurant – with prestigious locations in London and Hong Kong – for its Edinburgh debut in 2022.

The all-day restaurant will be located on level 4, occupying 8,400 sq ft, including a terrace overlooking the entrance, joining the other mouth-watering culinary offerings already located within The Quarter.

Directly accessible from Register Square and reflecting the brand’s signature culinary style, Duck & Waffle Edinburgh will deliver its playful take on traditional British cuisine with broad European influences emphasizing local, rustic, seasonal and sustainable ingredients to the Scottish capital, with dishes designed for sampling and sharing.

Following a hugely successful first phase launch, the signing is a demonstration of the global appeal of St James Quarter, as the mixed-use district continues to establish its place as the number one dining destination in Scotland.

Ed Corrigan at St James Quarter, said: “For a brand of the calibre of Duck & Waffle to choose St James Quarter for its first UK restaurant outside of London is a massive coup for Edinburgh, underlining not just the strength of the city’s international appeal, but St James Quarter’s growing reputation in the market.

“It adds to a stellar food offer that will cater for all of our visitors, from the casual diner to the serial foodie – we absolutely cannot wait for this opening.”

Shimon Bokovza, Managing Partner & Brand Visionary of Duck & Waffle added: “Duck & Waffle was born in London and we’re proud to spread our wings to Edinburgh’s anticipated St James Quarter as we expand globally.

“We’re eager to participate in the city’s love for culture and the arts through our own contribution of culinary creativity and epicurean community.”

Duck & Waffle will join the likes of SUSHISAMBA, Bonnie & Wild, Ka Pao, Black Sheep, Bross Bagels, Salerno Pizza, Wingstop, Thai Express Kitchen and Pho as St James Quarter continues to strengthen an already formidable line up of dining options.

A game-changing mixed-use development being delivered by Nuveen Real Estate, St James Quarter completes the distinctive offer of Edinburgh with over 80 new brands, an enticing mix of restaurants and bars, W Edinburgh, a boutique Everyman Cinema, a Roomzzz Aparthotel, and an unrivalled guest experience providing customers with an enviable events programme in a range of new and attractive public spaces.

Complementing an unrivalled shopping offer – which includes a host of brands including & Other Stories, Mango, Zara, Bershka, Pull & Bear, Stradivarius, Russell & Bromley, Miele, Next, H&M, JD Sports, John Lewis, and many more – St James Quarter will be a premier food and drink destination providing a truly diverse offer – from fast food, fresh food, to family and restaurant dining including Bonnie & Wild as the anchor for the development’s new concept food hall, Five Guys, and The Alchemist. The offer will be available over a number of locations throughout St James Quarter, each with its own unique look and feel.

St James Quarter and FUSE to provide 200 jobs this Christmas

Scotland’s retail and hospitality industries are set to benefit from a significant job boost this Christmas, thanks to St James Quarter and its FUSE initiative.

As the retail and hospitality industries prepare for a busy festive season, more than 200 new temporary and permanent jobs will be recruited for at the development, ranging from style advisors, retail assistants, bar staff, waiting staff and chefs.

Launched by the team at St James Quarter and working in partnership with a number of organisations across the city, FUSE is a new initiative providing a high-quality recruitment service, specialising in retail and hospitality for employers both within St James Quarter and the wider Edinburgh area.

FUSE is recruiting for a variety of brands including Bershka, Calvin Klein, H Beauty, Maki & Ramen, GDK and many more.

Further to driving recruitment, FUSE will also continue to support those employed by providing further training, accredited qualifications, and ongoing networking opportunities.

Rochelle Weir at St James Quarter said: “Christmas is gearing up to be an extremely busy time for St James Quarter and all the brands within it, so we’re delighted to be working with FUSE to be providing new job opportunities for people in the city.

“The team at St James Quarter is passionate about doing our part to support and bolster the local community and we’re proud to be able to bring so many exciting career opportunities to Scotland during the festive season and beyond.”

Calum Nicol, FUSE Manager, added: “At FUSE, we’re committed to providing a leading service for both employers and employees – helping to match recruits with the needs of employers.

“Our diverse and experienced team allows us to stay at the forefront of recruitment needs, with our in-depth knowledge of all sectors placing the most suitable candidates in the most suitable positions.

“Our Job Recruitment Fair is an opportunity for those seeking employment to come down and see what’s available. There are a number of exciting brands within St James Quarter hiring and our aim is to find the right people for the right role.”

For more information of the FUSE Job Recruitment Fair visit:

https://edinburghfuse.com/events

St James Quarter is the ‘plaice’ to be this weekend with its first ever Seafood Festival

Forget the catch of the day, St James Quarter has a number of exciting activities lined up as it gears up for its first ever Edinburgh Seafood Festival, in partnership with Seafood Scotland, featuring some fin-tastic collaborations.

Taking place Friday 22^nd – Sunday 24^thOctober, from 12noon to 7pm each day, foodies will have the chance to drop into a series of intimate events from sushi making with Maki & Ramen, Seaside Gin tasting and pairing with The Oysterman and Japanese roll sessions with Harajuku Kitchen.

Attendees can head to the ‘Seafood Dome’ located on St James Square throughout the weekend and enjoy a variety of cooking demonstrations suitable for all ages.

Join MasterChef winner Gary Maclean on Saturday 23^rd October from 12noon, where the Scottish National Chef will explore an array of seafood the Scottish larder has to offer and take part in an exclusive Q&A session with him.

And it doesn’t stop there, those ‘trout and about’ can enjoy freshly shucked oysters from The Oysterman from Friday to Sunday and live music from Edinburgh Jazz & Blues throughout the weekend.

Nick Peel, Managing Director at St James Quarter, said: “We promised something new and exciting every week and that’s exactly what we are delivering.

“We know from the success of our food and beverage brands just how much customers love culinary experiences, so we’re extremely excited to be partnering with Seafood Scotland to present our first ever Seafood Festival this weekend.

“From sushi making with Maki & Ramen to educational sessions with MasterChef winner Gary Maclean – there really is something for everyone to enjoy!”

Clare MacDougall, Head of Trade Marketing (Middle East, North America and UK) at Seafood Scotland added: “At Seafood Scotland we are always looking for ways to showcase the range of quality products we have in Scottish waters and being part of St James Quarter’s first Seafood Festival will help us do just that.

“Head along to learn more about what you can do with different types of seafood and you’ll be in for a treat if you spot The Oysterman as he will be shucking fresh oysters and serving them to you with a pairing of your choice.”

To celebrate the Seafood Festival, St James Quarter is offering all customers half price car parking from 5:30pm every night until Sunday 31^st October.

So, ‘sea’ it for yourself, head to the St James Quarter’s social channels for more info: @stjamesquarter

Lights, camera, fashion at St James Quarter

Last night, the St James Quarter car park was transformed as the fashion districted hosted its first ever runway show, in partnership with Edinburgh College of Art.

The 45-minute show marked the penultimate day of The Quarter’s Edinburgh Style event programme, which ran from Thursday 14^th – Sunday 17^th October.

2021 graduates from Edinburgh College of Art showcased their latest fashion collections. The designers were joined by fellow 2019 alumni and St James Quarter tartan designer, Rosie Baird, who unveiled her stunning collection on the models, along with her hand-designed St James Quarter tartan.

Rochelle Weir, brand and marketing director at St James Quarter, said: “St James Quarter is renowned for its fashion, beauty and lifestyle offering. We loved being able to showcase this in a new way at Edinburgh Style.

“We’re proud to have an ongoing partnership with Edinburgh College of Art and provide a platform for local talent to shine. We were blown away by the pieces displayed at the fashion show – I’m in no doubt that we’ll be hearing the names of the graduates within the industry soon!”

Mal Burkinshaw, Head of Design at Edinburgh College of Art, said: “We are delighted to partner with St James Quarter not only for last night’s fashion show, but for our Degree Shows too.

“The runway provided our graduates with a platform within a high-end retail context and will be an invaluable experience for them.”

For more information, please visit www.stjamesquarter.com

St James Quarter adds fashion brand REISS

St James Quarter has added British fashion brand REISS to its line-up. The new 1,978 sq ft store will open on level three of the shopping district joining the likes of Kooples, Aesop, Russell & Bromley, Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, and H Beauty.

REISS is a modern, global fashion brand offering stylish women’s and men’s wear and will complement St James Quarter’s luxury fashion line up, bringing even more jobs to the Scottish capital. Founded in 1971 by David Reiss, the brand has 185 locations across 8 countries.

St James Quarter has gone from strength to strength since opening in June, and REISS joins the impressive and growing list of names at the retail led destination, which includes & Other Stories, Mango, Zara, Bershka, Pull & Bear, Stradivarius, Miele, Next, H&M, JD Sports, John Lewis and many more.

This latest letting also follows on from the recent announcement of two new lettings to international restaurants WingStop and Thai Express Kitchen at the quick service pitstop dining area, Leith Street Eats.

Nick Peel, Managing Director at St James Quarter, said: “REISS has been a fixture of the British shopping scene for half a century and will be a welcome addition to St James Quarter’s growing list of luxury brands.

“At St James Quarter, there really is something for everyone and we’re continuing to grow our diverse offering by blending international retailers with household names and popular local brands.”

Spokesperson at REISS, added: “In our 50^th year, we’re proud to be opening another REISS store in a great location. St James Quarter is an exciting development with everything the modern customer is looking for.”

This latest signing at St James Quarter, which recently opened the first phase of its retail, dining, and leisure elements in June this year, underscores the Scottish capital’s global appeal and further bolsters the St James Quarter leisure offer.

Complementing an unrivalled shopping offer, St James Quarter will be a premier food and drink destination. It will provide a truly diverse offer – from fast, fresh food, to family and restaurant dining, including Bonnie & Wild as the anchor for the development’s new concept food hall alongside Five Guys, and The Alchemist. The offer will be available over a number of locations throughout St James Quarter, each with its own unique look and feel.

Christmas is back with a bang as St James Quarter announces the arrival of Bar Hütte’s festive experience

Edinburgh’s Christmas is back with a bang as St James Quarter announces the arrival of Bar Hütte’s festive experience that is set to take shape from Monday 8^th November, offering a unique take on ‘Alpine Après Ski’.

Proving popular in other cities across the UK, the pop-up concept provides private holiday style chalets for shoppers to get cosy with friends and indulge in festive speciality cocktails, whilst taking part in Christmas karaoke.

Located at St James Square, customers can also enjoy live music sessions whilst sipping on a hot gin or spiced mulled wine and tucking into mince pies until Sunday 2nd January.

Inspired by previous trips to Courchevel, Zermatt and Tignes, Bar Hütte have created the look and atmosphere of traditional Alpine ski resorts. Furnished with a warm, festive décor, the super-snug ski hüttes are the perfect place to accommodate wintertime get-togethers, a post-Christmas shopping ‘pick-me-up’ or date nights with a difference.

Each private, bookable hütte includes a karaoke set-up so you and the blast out Mariah, Wham or Kylie to your hearts content.

Nick Peel, Managing Director at St James Quarter, said: “We are delighted to be welcoming Bar Hütte to St James Quarter as part of our Christmas offering. With it being our first Christmas, we’re excited to join our customers in getting into the festive spirit and what better than mulled wine and karaoke to help us do that.

“These Alpine Après Ski’ inspired huts are the perfect way to create our very own winter wonderland here at The Quarter and we can’t wait for everyone to enjoy them.”

To experience a ‘Cosy Karaoke Hütte’ for up to eight people for 1 hour 45 minutes, each hut requires a non-refundable booking fee of £60. This includes Christmas karaoke as well as a complimentary welcome ‘Bombardino’ – a warm drink made up of hot rum and eggnog topped with whipped cream & cinnamon.

Bar Hütte also has a VIP area that can cater for up to 20 people for two hours for £150. This includes hire of the space, Christmas karaoke, a welcome glass of prosecco and a Bombardino for all guests on arrival.

For more details and to book tickets visit: https://www.barhutte.co.uk/ or get more information on Instagram and Facebook.

St James Quarter’s first ever fashion festival ‘Edinburgh Style’

Grab your heels, dress to impress and prepare to be inspired as St James Quarter presents its very first ‘Edinburgh Style’ event from Thursday 14th – Sunday 17th October.

Scotland’s new fashion capital, St James Quarter will host an array of stylish events over the long weekend. The line-up includes fashion and beauty workshops hosted by world-renowned influencers, autumnal wreath demonstrations to live music with Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival and an unmissable fashion show in partnership Edinburgh College of Art.

Kicking off from 11am each day, St James Quarter will have a variety of pop-up locations for fashionistas to explore including the ‘Style Dome’ on St James Square and the ‘Style Lounge’ in the galleria.

Attendees can drop into the ’Style Dome’ to watch a series of talks hosted by eight iconic influencers over the course of the weekend. The influential hosts include the beauty icon who boasts Kim Kardashian as one of their number one fans, Reuben de Maid, Scottish fashion guru and Dula fashion house founder, Jilly Isabella and food expert Just Jess.

John Lewis will also host an exclusive session with established model Chioma who will provide top tips on how to style your wardrobe this winter.

And it doesn’t stop there: Edinburgh College of Art graduates will be presenting their collections with models in the galleria and onto the car park for a one-off not to be missed boutique fashion show.

Attendees can also admire work created by Textiles and Jewellery & Silversmithing graduates displayed in the ‘Style Dome’, as well as hear from Edinburgh College of Art and Graduate Fashion Week 2019 Award Winner Rosie Baird, who will be discussing her own graduate collection and inspiration behind the St James Quarter Tartan that she designed.

Throughout the weekend shoppers will be entertained with pop-up bars, an art exhibition, selfie stations at the ‘Style Stories’ and so much more. A number of brands from The Quarter including Boots, Peloton, Ixia Flowers, Bodyshop, Keihl’s and IOLLA are also set to get involved throughout the weekend.

Rochelle Weir, brand and marketing director at St James Quarter, said: “What an event we have lined up. Not only will this give people an opportunity to see all the amazing brands, including Keihl’s and IOLLA, we have here at St James Quarter but it’s also a chance to flaunt your own style and be inspired by others. The influencers attending to host our fashion and beauty workshops are some of the best in the business.

“Who better to give you glam tips than Reuben de Maid – the person who has worked one to one with Kim Kardashian!

“We are also extremely excited to be working with Edinburgh College of Art graduates to bring our very own fashion show to life. If you’re in Edinburgh from the 14th-17th October, make sure to come down and check out everything we have going on – it’s not to be missed!”

Mal Burkinshaw, Head of Design at Edinburgh College of Art, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with St James Quarter for this unique event. This opportunity gives our graduates a platform within a high-end retail context and will be an invaluable experience for them.”

Edinburgh Style events are free to attend and will be allocated on the day through a first come, first served basis. For more information on the events taking place from Thursday 14^th – Sunday 17^th October visit St James Quarter’s event page at: https://stjamesquarter.com/events/

To celebrate Edinburgh Style and other upcoming events, St James Quarter is offering all customers half price car parking from 5:30pm every night until Sunday 31^st October.

St James Quarter completes Leith St Eats line up with Wingstop and Thai Express Kitchen

St James Quarter is spicing things up with two new international restaurants joining the already mouth-watering and diverse F&B line up in the heart of the city.

Designed around a crescent ‘urban garden’ theme, Leith St Eats offers a hangout spot from lunchtime right though till late evening hosting a compelling line-up of local, national, and international eateries.

Wingstop, the international chicken wing restaurant, is set to occupy a 1,800 sq ft space at Leith St Eats on level one, becoming the restaurants’ most recent UK signing, the first in Scotland and adding to its 1,500+ branches worldwide. Partnered with rap artist Rick Ross in the US, the brand has already made its mark on the UK scene, collaborating with the likes of Gymshark, Reprezent Radio and Xbox.

Also bringing a new distinctive offer to St James Quarter is Thai Express, the global leading brand for fast casual Thai dining. Thai Express will be taking 2,600 sq ft located at Leith St Eats and bringing a new format – ‘Thai Express Kitchen’ to Edinburgh.

The new concept will add to the Quarter’s evening offering and will boast an open kitchen, allowing diners to marvel at flames created by wok chefs. Renowned for its signature Pad Thai and trademarked “General Thai”, Thai Express has over 350 stores worldwide, however this will be a first for the Thai Express Kitchen format, bringing that “same same but different” feel.

Completing the line-up alongside Five Guys, Tortilla and Edinburgh-based Maki & Ramen within Leith St Eats is gourmet kebab brand GDK.

Conceived in Berlin, GDK offers an elevated but authentic kebab experience with lean meats, hand-made breads and signature sauces.

Nick Peel, Managing Director at St James Quarter, said: “We are absolutely delighted to welcome more delicious eateries to the Quarter. The success of our restaurants and food outlets so far has been second to none and I’ve enjoyed not only hearing the incredible feedback from customers but also seeing the enjoyment from the staff at each establishment.

“Adding more ‘firsts’ to the list with Wingstop and Thai Express Kitchen really shows the calibre of our offering within Quarter and we can’t wait to welcome everyone in to try them out.”

Tom Grogan, Director, Lemon Pepper Holdings, said: “We have taken our time to look for the perfect location for our first Wingstop location in Scotland and we are delighted with the site we have chosen in Edinburgh at St James Quarter.

“We look forward to introducing our Flavours and Wings to the guests of this iconic development.”

Sachin Pattani, Managing Director, Thai Express, added: “We are eager to open our doors to the public. We have really pushed the boat on the design by introducing one of a kind double decker seating, a hanging garden, and an impressive 12 meter mural.

“As well as extending our food and drink offering with exciting twists on your traditional Thai classics. St. James is the perfect setting to unveil our new concept.”

The recent signings will join the likes of Ka Pao, Black Sheep, Bross Bagels, Salerno Pizza, Bonnie & Wild, Sushi Samba and Pho as St James Quarter continues to strengthen an already formidable line up of dining options.

St James Quarter gives a sneak peek into life ‘Behind the Quarter’

As the buzz of the official opening of St James Quarter continues, St James Quarter has provided a rare insight into life behind the scenes, showcasing some of the brands’ located at The Quarter and an update on their story so far.

Episode 3 of the ‘Behind the Quarter’ series features exclusive interviews with some of the brands that are a first for Scotland, including Pull & Bear, Stradivarius and & Other Stories. Viewers can also enjoy watching snippets of shoppers and colleagues enjoying Edinburgh’s newest retail district.

The video reflects on what guests can now enjoy at the 1.7 million sq ft development which, once fully complete, will feature a shopping galleria with 80 different retailers, an enticing mix of restaurants, Scotland’s first W Edinburgh hotel, a boutique Everyman Cinema, a Roomzzz Aparthotel, residential apartments and parking for 1,600 cars.

Nick Peel, Managing Director at St James Quarter opens the video sharing details on life at The Quarter so far before moving onto some of the first guests to enter the galleria and their initial impressions and reactions to the brand-new shopping district.

Representatives from LEGO, Rituals, Krispy Kreme, Superdrug, Bonnie & Wild, The Kooples, Lane7 and Tortilla are also interviewed in the video sharing exclusive details of what they have been up to since opening their doors and what customers can expect over the coming months.

The full video can be streamed here.

To download this teaser content, click here.

St James Quarter announces partnership with two city charities

St James Quarter is proud to announce its partnership with two Edinburgh charities, Radio Forth’s Cash for Kids and Deaf Action. Through the partnership, St James Quarter aims to raise over £100,000 in the next 12 months, improving the lives of disadvantaged children or those who are deaf or hard of hearing in the local community.

Over the next year, St James Quarter aims to raise the equivalent of 1p per visitor to The Quarter through a host of staff and guest initiatives.

Through the partnership with Deaf Action, St James Quarter is committed to becoming the world’s first cultural and lifestyle hub which is fully inclusive and accessible to deaf visitors.

There are 75,000 deaf and hard of hearing people living within 1 hour of St James Quarter, so together, the partnership aims to raise deaf awareness, celebrate deaf culture, and equip those at St James Quarter with the skills they need to offer a truly welcoming and inclusive experience for all.

Radio Forth’s Cash for Kids is a local charity based in Edinburgh. Everything raised locally, stays locally. The partnership with St James Quarter will help to raise vital funds to improve the lives of disadvantaged children and young people in the local Edinburgh community who are affected by poverty, illness, neglect and additional needs.

The collaboration comes at a crucial stage for Cash For Kids who have supported over 10,000 local families who have been hardest-hit by the pandemic by providing the basic essentials such as food, toiletries, clothing and electricity.

Nick Peel, Managing Director for St James Quarter, said: “St James Quarter sits at the heart of the Edinburgh community, and we distil this ethos through everything we do.

“We’ve been truly inspired by the incredible work Deaf Action and Cash For Kids do and we’re really proud to play our part in supporting them over the next 12 months.”

Victoria Hendry, Charity manager at Radio Forth Cash for Kids, said: “We’re thrilled to have been chosen as a charity partner of St James Quarter. Being a local charity supporting children and young people right on our doorstep, we’re so passionate about creating strong partnerships with local brands and with St James Quarter being such a staple destination in the city we couldn’t think of a better fit.

“We are really looking forward to working with them over the coming months on innovative and creative events and campaigns to enable us to support events more local children in and around Edinburgh.”

Philip Gerrard, CEO of Deaf Action, said: “Deaf Action is honoured to be one of the first official charity partners for St James Quarter for the year ahead. With 1 in 5 people in Scotland being affected by hearing loss, this is an amazing opportunity to raise the profile of deafness across the country.

“As we work with the team at St James Quarter to improve accessibility, we can help them become the UK’s first fully inclusive lifestyle hub where the deaf community feel welcome.”